General Debate 30 June 2013

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Keeping Stock

Which prominent Labour MP and self-confessed “communications expert” got sucked in by a David Shearer parody account on Twitter last night?

http://keepingstock.blogspot.co.nz/2013/06/tweet-of-day-30-june-2013.html

Then again, maybe the MP involved thought that David Shearer’s comment about looking forward to working with Meka Whaitiri on Labour’s backbench was a statement of fact. Have we identified the Paddy Gower leaker?
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June 30, 2013 8:05am
Andrew

I’ve put together a table detailing methods used in NZ public polls. If anyone can add to it, of if anything is inaccurate, please let me know by commenting on the page and I’ll update it.

https://grumpollie.wordpress.com/nz-public-poll-methods-grid/
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June 30, 2013 8:06am
lilman

Last day at work,holidays are a coming.
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June 30, 2013 8:15am
Nookin

So once again Nonu shows that he regards Super rugby as beneath him — this time by contemptuous indiscipline.
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June 30, 2013 8:33am
Keeping Stock

Dead right Nookin. And he can’t even blame Steve Walsh this time; the red card was absolutely the right decision.
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June 30, 2013 8:37am
Nookin

It looked very much to me as though the neck of the crusaders player was very much at right angles to his shoulders on impact. Chilling.
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June 30, 2013 8:45am
Judith

Nookin (2,531) Says:
June 30th, 2013 at 8:45 am
It looked very much to me as though the neck of the crusaders player was very much at right angles to his shoulders on impact. Chilling.

yep, as soon as it screened you could see a red card coming.

I do not for one minute think he meant to harm the player – but given his experience, he should know how to play the game, and control his actions to ensure such a thing does not happen. I suspect a suspension will also be forthcoming?
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June 30, 2013 8:55am
iMP

Revenge of the Greeks…here come the Persians again. The “300” sequel trailer.

http://conzervative.wordpress.com/2013/06/30/persians-vs-greeks-part-ii-300-sequel/
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June 30, 2013 9:02am
kowtow

The kiwiblog community is truly blessed to have the expert insight of Judith.

She knows every intimate detail of what went on at the Bain household that violent morning and now we learn she knows the intimate workings of Nonus ‘ mind on the footie field.

I stand in awe.
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June 30, 2013 9:29am
Redbaiter

Kowtow- GD is sure a wasteland since the Progressives have moved in.
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June 30, 2013 9:31am
hj

Paul krugman
Notes on Immigration

“Immigration is an intensely painful topic for a liberal like myself, because it places basic principles in conflict. Should migration from Mexico to the United States be celebrated, because it helps very poor people find a better life? Or should it be condemned, because it drives down the wages of working Americans and threatens to undermine the welfare state? I suspect that my March 27 column will anger people on all sides; I wish the economic research on immigration were more favorable than it is.

In writing this piece I drew mainly on three sources, research papers by economists I know and trust. First is a paper, “Immigration Policy,” by Gordon H. Hanson (pdf) of the University of California at San Diego, . Mr. Hanson is one of my former students, and a leading expert on all matters having to do with U.S.-Mexican economic relations, especially issues having to do with income distribution. This paper gives a good overview of the (small) gains from immigration and the fiscal impacts.

Second is a paper by George Borjas and Lawrence Katz of Harvard, “The Evolution of the Mexican-Born Workforce in the United States.” (pdf). Mr. Borjas is a leading expert on immigration issues; Mr. Katz is one of America’s leading labor economists.

Third is a paper by Mr. Hanson, Matthew Slaughter of Dartmouth (another former student) and Kenneth Scheve (pdf) of the University of Michigan. This paper alerted me to the way immigration penalizes more generous states.”

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/03/27/notes-on-immigration/?_r=0
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June 30, 2013 9:31am
hj

Here’s a good documentary for our it’s the land supply government.
http://www.nfb.ca/film/radiant_city/
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June 30, 2013 9:36am
hj

Surviving the Cold
has a famous Russian who wore nothing but shorts ( bare feet) and was leader of a health cult.
http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/surviving-cold/
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June 30, 2013 9:40am
bhudson

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/opinion-analysis/8844702/Restrict-access-to-KiwiSaver

The solution to superannuation is not some socialist fantasy where the government forces you to join a scheme which siphons off your disposable income and dictates to you when and how much of your own money you can have.

I struggle to see how Hawes’ idea is any different to govt upping taxes to fund superannuation, other than the illusion that real choice remains in which fund manager and which fund type you use. (You could bet your bottom dollar that if his idea was implemented the choice of investment types would be further restricted or removed and the drip feeding of your cash undermines the notion that it is yours in a practical sense.)
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June 30, 2013 9:43am
WineOh

With regards to the Nonu tackle, one can’t say he didn’t mean to harm the player as it takes a specific technique to deliver a spear tackle. Firstly lifting (and it takes some beans to lift a 100kg rugby player determined to run past you), and then to up-end & drive into the ground. Extremely careless at the very least.

A great shame, as I have been a big fan of Nonu especially with his re-invention in the last couple of seasons. No longer being used as a blunt-force trauma battering ram… but also long kicks behind the defensive line for position, and chip kicks through. He already draws two defenders every time he handles the ball because of his danger in running ball in hand.

His inevitable visit to the judiciary is not going to end happily, especially with a somewhat checkered history of ill discipline. The only mitigating factor is that it was treated with appropriate measure on the field with a red card, that may reduce the penalty on him individually.

Will force a rethink of the All Blacks backline for the rest of the season?
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June 30, 2013 9:52am
hj

“The result is the latest problem for Prime Minister John Key’s support parties. Act leader John Banks faces a private prosecution over election donations, Peter Dunne was forced to resign as a minister over leaked documents, and now the Maori Party leadership is in doubt.”

Looks like Sir Winston Peters will be the kingmaker.
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June 30, 2013 9:53am
WineOh

@ bhudson regarding Hawes & Kiwisaver article, thanks for posting the link.

This is an odd suggestion coming from Hawes, he is usually a proponent of individual control & diversified personal portfolio… not government controlled income distribution. Definitely an attempt to protect people from themselves.
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June 30, 2013 9:56am
Nookin

Interesting statistic in the Australia Somerset game. Somerset lost 6 wickets without scoring. Not often that that happens.
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June 30, 2013 9:57am
hj

“Labour’s Meka Whaitiri wins Ikaroa-Rawhiti by-election”

Good, that’s where Maori belong, of course they could have put on their mythical mantel and voted Green.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10893801
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June 30, 2013 9:58am
magsta

Al Morrison, DG of Conservation, displays some faulty reasoning about native trees and storms in this article in yesterday’s DomPost
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/8857529/Native-trees-a-capital-investment

Sure the DG doesn’t need to be an expert in NZ forest dynamics, but I would have thought he’d know a thing or two about the frequency and severity of storm damage to native forests on the Conservation estate. I’ve listed a few such events in the comments section (on Stuff), but I’m sure folks who frequent our forests can come up with countless other examples of windthrow, stem breakages, limb fall of native trees during storms.

Maggy Wassilieff
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June 30, 2013 10:30am
OneTrack

“Looks like Sir Winston Peters will be the kingmaker.”

Or Key (who doesnt need the aggravation) will refuse to even talk to
him.

Vote Winston. Get Meteria, Hone, Russel and Grant for free. Yep brilliant plan. Go Winston.
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June 30, 2013 10:36am
hj

I must admit giving the Green party too much power would be scary given the Maori nationalists and Keith Lockes entrails.
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June 30, 2013 10:44am
hj

We need a population debate (if it’s alright with TV1, TV3 RadioNZ, Nationals vested interests, and Labours lesftists of the internationalist tradition).

Asians lead immigration
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/251430/asians-lead-immigration
Mon, 1 Apr 2013

Asians are dominating in visitor and international student numbers and in most family-migration categories to New Zealand.

As more New Zealand citizens depart, especially to Australia, this could change the country’s social fabric faster than anticipated, Massey University sociologist Paul Spoonley says.

”Asians have moved from being ‘a significant number’ to ‘dominating’ most immigration categories,” Prof Spoonley said.

Over 2011-12, New Zealand had its first net migration loss since 2001 – but combined Asian temporary and permanent arrivals increased.

China by far outnumbered the rest in the visitor and student-visa categories, and had approval numbers more than three times higher than India and the UK in the family-sponsored and parent categories.

Despite the UK still being the biggest source country for permanent residents, Prof Spoonley noted, the combined total from China, India and the Philippines more than doubled the British.

Despite the rapid rise in numbers, it would be decades before Asians would outnumber Pakeha, Prof Spoonley said, but strains were starting to show.

”We also haven’t been very good at telling New Zealanders about the positive aspects of immigration.”

He said it was ”hard for people to feel positive” about immigration during times of high unemployment and economic downturn.

In a recent annual Asia New Zealand Foundation survey, just half felt Asian immigration was positive and a third felt immigrants were taking jobs away.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/251430/asians-lead-immigration
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June 30, 2013 10:48am
TimG_Oz

Why do newspapers print extremists views like Matt McCarten and John Minto.

Today, he tells an amazing story about Mandelas vision as a means to espouse hatred towards Israel:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10893787

Problem is, Mandela is a supporter of Israel – he even visited there:

“I cannot conceive of Israel withdrawing if Arab states do not recognize Israel, within secure borders.”
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/n/nelsonmand178788.html

More on false accusations of Apartheid here: http://timgoz.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/some-simplified-graphics-for-simplified.html

If it’s apartheid you want, check out Arab nations, including the Palestine that McCarten wants to create:
http://www.slideshare.net/puppino13/apartheid-israel-palestine
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June 30, 2013 10:51am
Harriet

“…..KiwiSaver is supposed to be savings for retirement income but, on retirement, people can do anything they like with it: Blow the whole lot in the first six months of retirement or lose out to ill-conceived investments. Whatever the case, when it is gone they will probably fall back on the state for support.

Instead of this, I would propose that people can draw a lump sum on retirement (perhaps 20 per cent of the money that they have in the KiwiSaver account) and then can draw only a certain amount each year. This effectively drip feeds the money in the account out over the 20 or 30 years of retirement….”

That’s more or less the Australian example.

“….To make this work, some of the rules around KiwiSaver would need to change. ……In any event, compulsion would be necessary so that virtually everyone has some retirement income and does not rely on the state…”

Most will still rely on the state but will only get a ‘part pension’ based on means testing. As Aust does.

“… all KiwiSaver accounts would have to convert to Conservative funds on retirement, so that they were diversified and low risk….”

That will instead be a ratio – the more you have, the higher the returns you can seek with a % of your super.

“….retirees could withdraw an annual amount as income. Ultimately actuaries would work this out. But it may be that it would be around 5 per cent a year of the original amount that was in the KiwiSaver fund. This would mean that 25 years from the start of the retirement, at age 90, the funds would be gone…”

That should also depend on the returns you got in the previous year – why deny people ‘slightly more money’ [say for better food or energy costs] that they have already just earn’t, but in denying them that – have them cost more in healthcare later on?
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June 30, 2013 11:29am
Harriet

-This major story breaking today- Child Abuse!

“…..Of course some stories are almost impossible not to report, even if they do cast a negative light on homosexuality. Thus the MSM must resort to spin, euphemisms, or gingerly sharing the information. This major story breaking today is a good case in point.

It has not made big headlines, topped page one, or lead the news broadcasts. Yet it really is one of the most horrific, despicable and diabolical stories you will hear. A homosexual couple from Queensland bought a baby and sexually abused the little boy, mainly from the years 2 to 6. The toddler was even shared around with paedophile networks by these homosexuals. One account of the story begins like this:

“An Australian man who bought a baby boy for $US8000 ($8600) with his partner, sexually abused the child and handed him to other paedophiles to molest, has been sentenced to 40 years’ prison in the US. Judge Sarah Evans Barker, while sentencing the 42-year-old in the US District Court in Indianapolis on Friday, said he deserved a harsher punishment but accepted the plea deal because she did not want to subject jurors to the disturbing evidence.

Prosecutors discovered videos and photos of the man, his domestic partner, also an Australian, and other men in Australia, the US, Germany and France abusing the child from the age of two to six. ‘For more than one year and across three continents, these men submitted this young child to some of the most heinous acts of exploitation that this office has ever seen,’ Indiana US attorney Joe Hogsett said after the sentencing….

“The court heard the two men, who had been living in California, bought the newborn boy for $US8000 in an undisclosed country and used falsified documents in Los Angeles in an attempt to adopt him. The boy was rescued by US authorities. He is being cared for in California.

“It is believed the men were identified last year as a Queensland couple. One of the men wrote to a gay community organisation in Queensland, complaining about being victimised by US authorities for being gay. ‘Our son is our reason for living but we have no choice left but to give him up for adoption,’ he wrote.”

A similar account from the ABC adds a few more details about the case: “The child abuse was so horrific the judge refused to put the case to a jury. . . . Police say the boy, now eight, had been living with the men in Cairns for several years when, in 2011, New Zealand authorities discovered that the boy had been used in child pornography.

“Queensland police raided the couple’s house in 2011, just after the men and the boy had left for the US. Police seized computers, electronic equipment and documents that uncovered high-definition video and images of child exploitation.”

Several things must be noted here. As mentioned, while some of the MSM did run with the story, it has been very squeamish to openly state what was actually going on here: homosexual pedophilia. Sadly we know that even though homosexuals are such a very small part of the general population, they have a substantial degree of involvement in child sexual abuse…..”

http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2013/06/30/dont-mention-the-h-and-p-words-together/
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June 30, 2013 11:41am
Kea

TimG_Oz, Mandela was great mates with Muammar Gaddafi, which is understandable given their common back ground in terrorism.

Israel is an open secular society. I remember having a few beers with a Muslim guy in Eastern Europe, who told me about his trip to Israel. He called into a shop and was surprised to see Arab Muslims running it. He asked about it and they told him most of the shops in the street were run by Muslims. They reckoned life was pretty good there.

I have some sympathy with the concerns over Israel being established as a physical nation. However, the behavior of the Muslims means that if I have to pick a side, it is Israel’s. One thing that disgusts me is the way the Muslim nations will preach hate and destruction, but not provide any real assistance to the Palestinians. Where is all the aid from rich Arab countries ?
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June 30, 2013 11:49am
Pete George

Andrew at 8.06 am – interesting table thanks.

I find it remarkable that in two out of five polls you can’t determine what the principle voting preference question is. But not surprising, I’ve look and have had difficulty finding out exactly what has been asked and how it has been asked.

Someone told me recently that when they were polled they were told that the party they gave was not an option.
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June 30, 2013 11:55am
hj

Several things must be noted here. As mentioned, while some of the MSM did run with the story, it has been very squeamish to openly state what was actually going on here: homosexual pedophilia. Sadly we know that even though homosexuals are such a very small part of the general population, they have a substantial degree of involvement in child sexual abuse…..”
……
References Harriet.
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June 30, 2013 12:18pm
TimG_Oz

Believe it or not, the newspaper headline today in Australia is “Neck and neck”

Not referring to the rugby, but that Rudd has taken the ALP back into polling contention.

It is hard to believe, but Tony Abbott is very unpopular. Libs should still have key gains in key seats (including the two vacated independent seats), but it is food for thought….
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June 30, 2013 12:39pm
Paulus

Understand from friend in South Africa that Zuma will not allow Mandela’s life support system to be turned off until he has his PR glory moments with Obama.
To have Mandela pass away at this time would not fit into his control picture.
In addition the vast fortune that Mandela has amassed is under severe family dispute, not helping the shining hour.
Also there is considerable argument as to who is in control of Mandela’s funeral, and where he is to be buried.
It is apparently all about money.
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June 30, 2013 12:53pm
kowtow

hj says we need a population debate…….

Hasn’t hj got the memo?

Debate in “progressive” democracies is a racist,nationalist tool so there must be no debate,no discussion ,no dissent.We must do as we’re told by the political ,bureaucratic elites.
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June 30, 2013 1:06pm
Pauleastbay

@ Paulus (1,779) Says:

June 30th, 2013 at 12:53 pm

Mandala is dead and this prick is keeping the chest going up and down, aint politics grand?
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June 30, 2013 1:13pm
Keeping Stock

At Paulus and Pauleastbay – I have wondered about this for several days. Now there is news that Mandela is going to be discharged from hospital, even though his condition is still described as “critical”. I heard reports that there will be a ten-day period of official mourning upon Mandela’s death (or at least the announcement of it) where South Africa will basically grind to a halt; there’s already talk of Super 15 matches not being played, and competition points being shared. I guess Zuma couldn’t have had SA in a state of paralysis whilst Obama was visiting.

It’s all pretty sickening, to be perfectly honest.
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June 30, 2013 1:26pm
kowtow

Our “news” last night rebroadcast an American item on the demise of Saint Nelson.

Showed a photo of the Obama shaking hands with the Great One back in the day and said Mandela was a big inspiration to the young O.

That explains a lot as we know that Mandela is a communist and convicted terrorist.
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June 30, 2013 1:44pm
liarbors a joke

lol..crime waves coming your way …

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8859470/Housing-NZ-offers-freebies-to-flee-Chch
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June 30, 2013 2:57pm
liarbors a joke

Heart wrenching stuff…

http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv/8859751/Jenny-May-on-cue-for-te-reo
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June 30, 2013 2:59pm
lilman

Jenny May,like I give a shit you can speak Maori,read the feckin NEWS.
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June 30, 2013 6:20pm
liarbors a joke

Isn’t she a dyke ?
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June 30, 2013 6:23pm
Manolo

An absurd comparison: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/obama-compares-nelson-mandela-george-washington/story?id=19531253#.Uc_TUG1YX80
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June 30, 2013 6:43pm
Kea

liarbors a joke, a Maori a woman and a Dyke ! Wow those are impressive lefty credentials indeed. Now if only she can find a disability…
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June 30, 2013 6:45pm
liarbors a joke

lol..chuck her on the waitangi tribunal..
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June 30, 2013 6:48pm
gump

@Harriet

It’s possible to be a horrible monster and homosexual. Just as it is possible to be a horrible monster while straight, Christian, or any other category you can imagine.

If you believe that being gay caused that couple to abuse that child, you must also believe that being straight caused Graham Capill to molest and rape multiple girls who were aged under twelve.

I have posted the NZ Prison statistics before on this blog. The overwhelming majority of men imprisoned for rape and sexual offenses are heterosexual men in the later stages of their life.
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June 30, 2013 7:35pm
nasska

Country life at its best. 🙂

Ref: https://www.dropbox.com/s/i75fiqe8u8uuolu/comic14.jpg
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June 30, 2013 7:56pm
nasska

A sex researcher called one of his participants in a recent
survey to check on a discrepancy. “Sir, in response to the
question of frequency of intercourse” the researcher said,
“you answered ‘twice weekly.’ Your wife, on the other hand,
said ‘seven times per night.’ How could this be correct?”

“That’s right,” the man said, “and that’s the way its going
to stay until her credit cards are paid off!”
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June 30, 2013 8:00pm
Griff

Did you hear about the cops who were called out to a burglary at a golf course?
They got a hole in one.
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June 30, 2013 10:08pm
Manolo

Luddites to the core. The most backward-looking branch of the Green Party continues its battle against progress.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/8854575/Forest-Bird-launch-another-mine-appeal
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July 1, 2013 6:40am
Manolo

National, the party of low taxes: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10893982
Labour Lite continues to cream New Zealanders. Thank you John Key and Nick Smith.
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July 1, 2013 6:53am

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